Judge: Slicing up polo mogul's property 'not a simple matter'

John Goodman absent from key hearing Thursday

John Goodman goes on trial on March 6, two years after a car crash that left 23-year-old college student Scott Wilson dead.

Judge: Slicing up polo mogul's property 'not a simple matter'

John Goodman absent from key hearing Thursday

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Updated: 2:39 PM EST Feb 27, 2012

The surprise adoption by polo mogul John Goodman of his adult girlfriend last week is not a simple matter when it comes to determining who gets control of the $300 million in Goodman’s trust fund, a Palm Beach County judge has said.

"I want to make sure everyone understands it’s not a simple matter of slicing up property and saying one-third is now Ms. Hutchins’, and now is Mr. Goodman's," Judge Glenn Kelly said in a motion hearing Thursday morning. "That’s not the analysis."

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Goodman is charged with DUI manslaughter in the 2010 death of 23-year-old Scott Wilson. A criminal trial is pending, as is next month’s civil wrongful death trial brought by Wilson’s parents.

Lawyers for the Wilson family asked the judge for an emergency injunction to stop the sale of a piece of Goodman’s property in rural Texas estimated to be more than 1,100 acres. Attorney Scott Smith argued the horse farm could be sold for much less than it's worth, and assets could disappear before the civil trial begins.

Kelly said he has no jurisdiction over the trust.

"How do I enjoin a transfer of assets in respect to the trust which is not a party of this case and where I have no general jurisdiction?” Kelly asked.

Kelly ruled last month that if a jury finds Goodman at fault in the civil trial, the assets in his trust could be considered part of his net worth, since his adult girlfriend likely would be in control of some of that money. However, he cautioned that a value estimation would be complicated.

Kelly did grant a motion by Wilson’s attorneys to appraise Goodman’s International Polo Club Palm Beach property in Wellington -- one of the defendant's largest assets -- which Wilson’s attorneys contend has been undervalued by Goodman in the past.

The judge noted he also has no jurisdiction in the adoption of Goodman’s girlfriend, which is being fought in Miami by lawyers for Goodman’s teenage children.

Wilson’s mother’s attorney, Chris Searcy, agreed.

"The challenge is going to be for the judge in Miami," Searcy said. "His decision so far has been the adoption is valid. I think it’s probably unlikely the judge will set that aside.

Goodman’s attorney, Dan Bachi, declined to comment on the court proceedings or the adoption.